1st T20 in Dubai: Pakistan sink to new low as Steyn fires

Hafeez calls for more application from the batsmen

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez blamed their misfiring batsmen for their heavy defeat in the first T20 internationat against South Africa in Dubai on Wednesday.

"The batting is not doing what they are required to do. The batsmen are trying their level best in practice sessions but not delivering in the matches. That is a concern for everyone in the squad. All I can say is boys are working on it but things are not happening at the moment. The boys are capable and they have to deliver. Every individual has to take responsibility to do well for the team," he said at the post-match conference.

South Africa cantered to a nine-wicket victory against Pakistan to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.

"Our batsmen are not taking the responsibility which individuals have to in a team. We have the talent but we need to work harder for the team. One person can't do this, it's not magic and as a batsman you have to look for runs and partnerships. We have the talent, it just needs application," he said at the presentation.

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis was pleased with their overall performance.

"First of all when we lost the toss, I thought it was going to be even tougher. The deck looked already quite dry but once again our bowlers put them under so much pressure and broke their back early. When you lose three wickets in the first six overs, it's always tough to come back from there. We were clinical and made sure we kept them to a low total," he said.

Faf du Plessis expressed surprised that 'Boom Boom' Afridi was sent in at No.3 against the new ball making 10 off 13 balls.

Proteas were also clinical when it came with the bat not panicking despite the loss of Amla early.

"We played (Saeed) Ajmal (well) and he was the threat and we scored off other guys. All in all it was a fantastic game of cricket and a really good start," he said.

Ajmal had figures of 4-0-12-0.

Chasing a modest target of 99, South Africa made short work of it coasting home in the 15th over despite losing Amla in the third over.

Pakistan never recovered after Dale Steyn (three for 15) and Lonwabo Tsotsobe (two for nine) struck early crashing to their lowest against South Africa in T20 internationals of 98 for nine in their 20 overs.

Man of the match Steyn said South Africa's current form has been inspired by the heavy loss they suffered against Pakistan in the opening Test of the current tour.

"What happened with us was we got a massive wake-up call. Honestly we got a beating in that first Test match. That's not the kind of cricket we want to play. We all looked at ourselves in the mirror and said 'Is that the brand of cricket we want to play and playing for the last couple of years'. The answer was simple. No. We had to find a way to becoming a better team and as quickly as we could. I think we did," said Steyn at the post-match conference.

Umar Akmal hit 49 off 41 balls with four boundaries and a six to bring some respectability for Pakistan.

Young firebrand Quinton de Kock (48 not out) and Faf du Plessis (37 not out) put on 83 in 73 balls for the second wicket as the Proteas coasted past their victory target in 14.3 overs.

Quinton smashed two sixes and three boundaries in his 38-ball 48 while Faf du Plessis crack four boundaries and a six in his 40-ball 37.

Magnificent swing bowling from Steyn and Tsotsobe had Pakistan reeling at three wickets down with just four runs on the board after Mohammad Hafeez had won the toss and elected to bat.

Umar Akmal (49 from 41 balls) brought a semblance of respectability to the score before he was run out near the end of Pakistan's innings, with the next highest score Shoaib Malik's 12.

Imran Tahir picked up two for 17, both his wickets stumped by De Kock, as Pakistan charged at everything despite their perilous situation.

Having won the one-day series 4-1 recently, the South African batsmen have established the ascendancy over Pakistan's bowlers in the UAE and it never looked like their target that would trouble them.

Hashim Amla (13) lost his leg-stump to Sohail Tanvir, but a career-best knock from the exciting De Kock, who was ably supported by Du Plessis, brought victory in quick time.

The second Twenty20 international will be played at the same venue on Friday.

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

Quinton is on fire sweeping Ajmal for a six over midwicket. SA 86-1 in 13 overs.

Big over for South Africa with Quinton and Faf du Plessis smacking a six each off Abdur Rehman. SA 75-1 in 12 overs.

Faf du Plessis scoops the first ball from Abdur Rehman over the keeper's head for a boundary.

Ajmal bowls another excellent over conceding only a single. SA 46-1 in 8 overs.

Pakistan will be looking to bounce back with a vengeance in the two-match Twenty20 series against South Africa which gets under way at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

South Africa trounced them comprehensively in the one-day series winning it 4-1.

But the Proteas are well aware that Pakistan are a different kettle of fish in the shortest format of the game.

Pakistan will have the added incentive of going top of the rankings in Twenty20.

Skipper Mohammad Hafeez said his team, ranked second behind Sri Lanka, are determined to put up a better show.

"Of course it will be a big thing if we attain the number one ranking but for us it is more important to win Wednesday's game and then think for the second," said Hafeez at the launch of the Twenty20 Cup.

Both matches will be played in Dubai, with the second clash taking place on Friday.

"This team in T20 has done a great job in the last couple of months. We have a good blend of juniors and seniors. We all know this format. Play fearlessly and always try to express ourselves in this format. It will be a better show," said Hafeez

Pakistan are bolstered by the return of all-rounders Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik, while South Africa welcome Twenty20 specialists in Henry Davids, Aaron Phangiso and David Wiese as well as pace spearhead Dale Steyn, who has not played a T20 since December last year.

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis did not wish to read much into the results in the ODI series.

"The weakness that they have shown in one-dayers with their batting line up, in T20 is not as effective because it's a shorter period of time. They are really dangerous team and we have got to play really well if we are going to beat them. They have got a lot of matchwinners and they got danger men in their side," he acknowledged.

However, were ready to meet the threat posed by players like Shahid Afridi.

"It's a flair match (T20). They've got a lot of those players. Boom boom comes in and T20 will suit him a lot better. But we've also got those players even though we are short in T20 format. We've got a certain game plan to get it right," he said confidently.